Ultimate Ears SuperFi 4vi Noise Isolating Earphones w/ Microphone
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| List Price: | $149.99 |
| Price: | $120.28 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details |
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Average customer review:Product Description
The super.fi 4vi incorporates the same speaker technology and sound signatures used in Ultimate Ears custom personal monitors, featuring detailed bass with crisp and clean mids and highs. In addition, the noise isolating design reduces ambient interference and enhances sound quality.The ultra compact and lightweight housing makes for a comfortable fit and is perfect for the active, fashion minded consumer. The machined aluminum housing compliments the sophisticated look and feel of the iPhone. An inline control button allows you to answer/end phone calls and control music/video playback functions.
Product Details
- Color: Gun Metal
- Brand: Ultimate Ears
- Model: IP-P4VSA0001-02
- Format: CD
- Dimensions: 1.40" h x 12.00" w x 10.50" l, .40 pounds
Features
- Made for iPhone
- Stage and studio quality sound
- Noise isolating design attenuates outside noise by an amazing 26db
- Comfortable and secure ear loops
- Includes universal fit kit and a protective travel case to store earphones
Editorial Reviews
From the Manufacturer
From the Manufacturer For over 12 years, Ultimate Ears has been designing custom ear monitor products for your favorite professional musicians for use on stage and in the studio. Musicians put their hearts, their souls, their breakups, their memories and their passions into every song and they count on Ultimate Ears products to get the most out of their music. Now, Ultimate Ears has taken the same sonic principles and technology used in its custom personal monitors to create a line of earphones specifically geared for use with the Apple iPhone.
Ultimate Sounds for Apple iPhone Owners
| super.fi 4vi The super.fi 4vi incorporates the same speaker technology and sound signatures used in Ultimate Ears custom personal monitors, featuring detailed bass with crisp and clean mids and highs. In addition, the noise isolating design reduces ambient interference and enhances sound quality. The ultra-compact and lightweight housing makes for a comfortable fit and is perfect for the active, fashion-minded consumer. The machined aluminum housing compliments the sophisticated look and feel of the iPhone. An in-line control button allows you to answer and end phone calls, as well as control music and video playback functions. |
| triple.fi 10vi The triple.fi 10vi is a high-end consumer earphone with integrated voice functionality that is based on the same technology and sound signature used in Ultimate Ears custom monitors. The triple.fi 10vi features integrated voice functionality and is specifically designed for use with the iPhone. A miniature high-performance microphone allows for hands-free phone calls, and an in-line multi-function button allows users to answer and end calls, as well as control music and video playback. Inside the triple.fi 10vi are three individually proprietary armature speakers that produce a full spectrum audio experience. The proprietary armature speakers are tuned for full and detailed bass while delivering crisp and clean highs. In addition, the noise isolating design reduces ambient interference and enhances sound quality. The armature is embedded in an anodized aluminum housing that is both small and lightweight, and is an aesthetic complement to the iPhone. |
| metro.fi 100v The metro.fi 100v offers all the superior sound quality and noise isolation of the metro.fi 100 and adds an in-line microphone and control button for hands-free convenience, allowing users to listen to their music and talk comfortably. Designed to fit the unique Apple iPhone headset jack (and other mobile phones with this same headset jack), the metro.fi 100v also features a fabric cord for tangle-free storage. The form factor is small and lightweight, providing excellent comfort and fit. Through it's comfortable in-ear design, the metro.fi 100v provides noise isolation that reduces ambient interference and enhances sound quality. Accessories include three sizes of silicone ear tips: small, medium and large, as well as a pocket-ready hard carrying case. |
| metro.fi 150v The metro.fi 150v has all the great features of the metro.fi 150, but also features integrated voice functionality and is specifically designed for use with the iPhone (and other mobile music phones with the same headset jack). A miniature high-performance microphone allows for hands-free phone calls. An in-line multi-function button answers and ends calls, and also controls music and video playback on your iPhone. The metro.fi 150v has excellent acoustic speaker technology, making it one of the best in-ear speaker products in its price range. Its comfortable design provides noise isolation that reduces ambient interference and enhances sound quality. The body has a lightweight yet durable form factor for the active lifestyle. Accessories include three single-flange silicone ear tip sizes, one set of dual-flange silicone ear tips, and a pocket-ready hard carrying case. |
| Getting the Ultimate Fit from Your Ultimate Ears Just ordered yourself some Ultimate Ears or already own a pair? Click the image to the right to see a short tutorial on how to insert your Ultimate Ears to achieve the best seal for your ear-canal. (The tutorial will open in a new window.) | |
Customer Reviews
Super clean. The best iPhone buds. PERIOD!
I love these buds. There are really only 3 choices for iPhone earbuds if you want the mic/control feature. I tried the UB7 Ultimate Buds Apple / Etymotic ER6i and the V-Moda Vibe Duos and these won out.
Etymotic ER6i are the same price, but not enough bass for me. They are a little bigger and not the most attractive. Only 90 day warranty. Uses the original iPhone cable which is good.
The Duos have WAY too much bass and weak highs. Some like them, but for me they sounded muddy and awful next to the UEs. The mic was big and bulky and the button was too small. The cloth cable makes noises in your ear when it rubs against your clothes. Really annoying. Mic isn't as good as the Apple phones.
The Super.fi's have a great design. Very light and I got a great fit. A really nice balanced sound. The button is a little hard to press at first, but after a while it loosens up and you get the hang of where to press - right in the middle. No other cons on these. The case is small and easy to carry. Every phones should come with a case this cool. Cable is the perfect length. Mic sounds as good if not better than the Apple phones. Nobody can tell I'm using a mic.
I hope this helps with a decision. I worked hard making this choice. You can't go wrong with these beautiful buds!!!
A balanced review using the iPhone.
First, I would like to give you some insight as to where I'm coming from. I'm a huge music fan, musician, DJ and audio engineer. I appreciate all of the subtleties of music, not just a big booming bass. I want to hear the hi-hats, tambourines, cymbals and other high frequencies. Also, the midrange containing so much musical information (vocals & instruments). Good, solid bass is also very important. I want to experience the _music_. I want to be able to distinguish between a fretless bass guitar, fretted bass and upright bass as well as synthesizers, bass drums and floor toms.
I'm not claiming to be THE authority on audio, but I believe that I do have discerning ears.
Second, I used a variety of MP3s. Some I ripped with Apple Lossless others at 320 constant bit rate, normal stereo, NO smart encoding adjustments, frequencies below 10Hz are filtered out. A few songs from the iTunes music store at 128 & 256 just to try them out. How the song was processed did make a difference! You can't trust some swiped MP3 you got off of Napster/Gnutella, they often sound bad.
That said, my review may seem to contradict some other reviews.
IMPORTANT: It's critical that the ear-buds fit really well in order to get the best bass response! I was lucky that the first covers that I tried fit perfectly (the universal fit kit comes with several covers).
I must say that, depending on the song, these have plenty of accurate bass. If the recording lacks a solid bass try the iPhone's equalizer. Click on: settings/iPod/EQ. My favorites are: Electronic, Flat, Jazz, Loudness and Rock. Most modern music sounds best flat. The artists that I used for the test are: The Police, Sting, James Taylor, Janet Jackson (2008), Armin Van Buuren, Buckcherry, The Offspring, 3rd Party, Elvis, Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Vivaldi and Billy Cobham... just to name a few.
These headphones are not perfection, but with some occasional EQ, I was surprised and very happy with the results. These will not sound as good as full sized headphones, but I was amazed at how close they are.
They block outside sound a lot which can be good/bad depending on what you're doing (outside noise/safety). For phone use they sound great, but it's weird because you can't really hear your own voice as you speak.
The design of the button to answer calls and change tracks is a weak point in an otherwise good product. I can make it work, but it requires a strong pinch. Also, a clip that attaches to your clothes and holds the wire to prevent tugging on your ears would be welcomed. You could accomplish this with a clip from Shure that's designed for lavalier microphones (music store). Are they worth the $133? For me, yes. I rate them at 4.5 stars for audio, but I would like them more if the button was redesigned. Take them for what they are... small ear bud headphones that sound very good for their size.
Super .fi 4vi iPhone headset Review
After reading tons of reviews on various styles of headphones, and even considering getting the Shure adapter for my iPhone I decided to get this headset.
Compared to the stock iPhone head phones it's night and day. It's not even close the amount of clarity these bring to the table... there isn't really a lot to say if you are comparing them to the stock iPhone head set. It's better in every aspect audio wise. Cleaner Bass, Cleaner Mids, and Highs. Better sound isolation, so you can hear your music at lower volumes.
It comes with a nice stylish headphone case. As do most headphones, but this one is actually small enough to fit in your pocket with out discomfort. I might possibly use this one, as apposed to wrapping the headset around the iPhone when I'm not using it. Definitely a plus.
Now, the only "real" comparison I have for these head phones is against my Shure E3G head phones, and my Steel Sounds 5h (version 1) Headset.
The Steel Sound 5h is a computer gaming headset, but sounds absolutely amazing, I have a link to it later in the review. Keep in mind that it's not earbud, it's a standard over the ear headphone.
I've been an owner of the e3g headphones for a little over a year.
To test the headphones, I got my older 60gig 5th Gen iPod often times refered to as "iPod Classic". I compared it to several types of songs with no EQ settings, just unplugging, and switching headphones, not changing volume levels.
My Shure e3g headphones have better isolation than the Super .fi 4vi, but the Super .fi aren't advertised at isolation headphones, where the Shure e3g are. The Super .fi how ever do Isolate, just not as well... it still drowns out the typing on my keyboard, or the snapping of my fingers when they are a foot or so away from my face.
Bass: This was my biggest concern with every earbud headphone/set i've thought about purchasing. ALOT of it has to do with getting a "GOOD" seal in your ear... you can change the positioning just a fraction and have the difference between "NO" bass, and "WOW" that sounds good.
the Super .fi have more bass than my e3g. Fresh out of the box, with about 10 mins of fiddling around trying to get a "perfect" fit, they have alittle more defined bass than the e3g. I am very pleased with the bass, which from reading reviews of this product people said it was lack luster... I don't find that to be the case at all.
How ever, if you don't have them positioned in your ears just right, the bass is GONE, NONE, very lacking. These earbuds don't go in my ear NEAR as far as the e3g. Which means the fit is more impt, and harder to find. How ever, faster to remove and insert once you get used to finding the "g" spot.
Over all, the bass is nice. Not as rich as my Steel Sound 5h head set (which is not a earbud set)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UP83SQ/sr=8-1/qid=1199481684/ref=pd_cp_e_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1199481684&sr=8-1&pf_rd_p=250314601&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000IC0VYA&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0EPG3MAV3N29HGQR85HF
(My Steel Sound 5h is V1, not V2 just a note)
Recap of the Bass. I am very pleased with it... Better than e3g/e3c and being how iPhone/iPods distort bass if you boost it, what I find my self doing if i want more is turn on the "treble reducer" EQ.
How ever, with this headset I run no EQ... the bass is perfect.
Mids/Treble: Very clean, very clear. I find that the e3g is almost too bright, and punchy on treble. I found my self running a treble reducer on my iPod just because the treble was so over powering with the e3g. The balance is perfect on the Super .fi 4vi. The mids sound better than the e3g, and the highs are balanced better.
These headphones have a great fidelity they sound very true, very crisp, very accurate.
Did I mention they look very nice as well? Stylish look. Black cord, Nickel color headphones.
The Cons: Price. $150ish, is alot, I got mine a little cheaper, but still over $100 (at the time of this review)
The phone button/pause/next track button is hard to press. And if you're like me, you're thinking "You idiots just can't press it" No... it really is hard to press. I can switch tracks, and do everything with it just perfectly, but it's not near as easy to press as the stock iPhone headset. Which is the only down side to the headphones I've found yet. If the button was more like the stock iPhones it'd be perfect.








